Blood Transfusion Flashcards
What determines blood groups?
Antigens
What blood groups form antibodies against which other blood groups?
Each blood group has the antigen for that blood group (A has the A antigen)
Each blood group has antibodies against another blood group
If blood group A, have antibodies against B
If blood group B, have antibodies against A
If blood group O, have antibodies against A and B
If blood group AB, have no antibodies against A and B
What is the difference between fresh frozen plasma in giving it to donors from just red blood cells?
Cannot give O to any blood group except from A
Can give AB to every blood group
This is due to the antibodies being present in the plasma
Name the products of plasma
Clotting Factors
Albumin
Coagulation factors
Antibodies
What are the three components of blood?
Plasma
Buffy Coat
Red blood cells
Name the products of buffy coat
Platelets
Leukocytes
What are indications for a red cell transfusion?
To correct severe acute anaemia, which might otherwise cause organ damage
To improve quality of life in patient with otherwise uncorrectable anaemia
To prepare a patient for surgery or speed up recovery
To reverse damage caused by patient’s own red cells
- Sickle Cell Disease
What are the indications for a platelet transfusion?
Massive haemorrhage
Keep platelet count above 75x109/l
Bone marrow failure e.g. sepsis
Prophylaxis for surgery
Cardiopulmonary bypass-use only if bleeding
Can be used in malignancy to prevent Intracranial bleed
What are indications for giving plasma?
Massive haemorrhage
DIC
Prophylaxis
What is cryoprecipitate?
It contains fibrinogen which can be measured in the lab
What is Coomb’s test used for?
Direct
autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
passive anti-D
haemolytic transfusion reactions
Indirect
Cross matching
What clinical aspects about a patient should be considered when deciding whether to transfuse them?
Pulse
Blood pressure
Hg Level
What level of Hg should a patient be transfused at?
Under 70
Unless cardiac problems, then transfuse at under 100-90
What are alternatives to transfusion?
Pre-admission clinics (correct anaemia before gets to transfusion level)
IOCS (intra-operative cell salvage) - take patients own blood and reuse it
What are the indications for a platelet transfusion?
Prophylactically or therapeutically to stop bleeding
-Platelet count less than 15, give platelets to reduce the risk of ICH
Dilutional Thrombocytopenia [massive transfusion]
Cardiopulmonary bypass surgery
D.I.C. if bleeding
Abnormalities of platelet function.
-Glanzmann’s disease, Bernard-Soulier syndrome, and platelet storage deficiency
